Find out how popular the last name Soni is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Soni.

Soni, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Soni surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Soni in America

Soni is the 9466th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Soni surname appeared 3,437 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Soni.

We can also compare 2010 data for Soni to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Soni

The surname "Soni" is of Indian origin, specifically from the northern Indian states of Punjab and Haryana. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 12th to 16th centuries.

The name "Soni" is derived from the Sanskrit word "Swarna," which means "gold." It is thought to have been an occupational surname initially used to refer to goldsmiths or those involved in the trade of gold and goldsmithing. The name's origins can be traced back to the Khurasani and Multani communities, which were known for their expertise in metalworking and jewelry-making.

In ancient Indian texts and records, such as the Ain-i-Akbari, which was a 16th-century administrative document written during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, there are references to the "Sonar" or "Soni" caste, which consisted of goldsmiths and jewelers. This suggests that the surname had already been established by that time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "Soni" was Rai Sahib Diwan Soni, a prominent figure in the court of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in the late 17th century. He served as the chief treasurer and was known for his expertise in financial matters.

Another notable figure was Pandit Sundardas Soni, a renowned scholar and poet who lived in the 18th century. He was a prolific writer and is remembered for his contributions to the field of Hindi literature.

In the 19th century, Lala Lakhpat Rai Soni was a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Punjab. He established several educational institutions and was actively involved in social reform movements.

Pandit Lekhram Soni, born in 1887, was a renowned Sanskrit scholar and author from Rajasthan. He wrote extensively on Hindu philosophy and literature, and his works are still widely studied and referenced.

Lastly, Kavi Narayan Soni, born in 1914, was a celebrated Hindi poet and writer from Uttar Pradesh. He received numerous literary awards and accolades for his poetic works, which explored themes of social justice and human values.

These are just a few examples of individuals who carried the surname "Soni" throughout history, reflecting the name's longstanding presence and significance within Indian society and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Soni

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Soni.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Soni was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Soni has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Soni was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Soni, please contact us.

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